Remembering Worthing’s fallen

G/1241 Private Raymond Champ

Royal Sussex Regiment 2nd Battalion

Died July 4, 1915, aged 35

Raymond Champ was born at Cowfold, the son of William, a coach driver in domestic service, and his wife Eliza.

By 1891 the Champ family, including seven children, were living at 33 Newland Road, Worthing.

Later they moved to 35 Newland Road.

Raymond’s father William developed a paralysis and was unable to work.

His mother Eliza took work as a laundress.

On leaving school Raymond began work as a bricklayer and, by 1911, there were three sons at home supporting the parents.

Raymond excelled at football and became well known locally as captain of the Silverdale Club.

In September 1914 Raymond enlisted at Worthing in the Royal Sussex Regiment.

He had been employed at local firm Wenban Smith at the time.

Five months later he was sent to France.

The terrible conditions in the trenches took their toll on his health and in April 1915 he was invalided home with bronchitis.

He was taken to the military hospital at Manchester where he died on July 4, 1915.

The funeral took place at Broadwater Cemetery on July 8, 1915, with full military honours.

Over 50 non-commissioned officers and men from his Battalion attended and the Curate of St Paul’s, the Rev Langhorne, conducted the service.

The firing party was from the Cyclists’ Battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment.

Afterwards The Last Post was sounded and Private Raymond Champ was laid to rest.